AFL Grand Final: Date, teams, history & how to watch

The AFL Grand Final is an Australian sporting institution and the entire week leading up to the game is filled with exciting events and activities, particularly in and around Melbourne.

It is a standout moment in the sporting calendar and regularly attracts a crowd of more than 100,000 spectators.

AFL Grand Final date

The AFL Grand Final in 2025 will be played on Saturday 27th September.

AFL Grand Final venue

The match will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Victoria - the traditional home of the AFL Grand Final.

The MCG is one of the most iconic sporting venues in Australia and has been the home of the AFL Grand Final since 1902. With a seating capacity of over 100,000, it is the largest stadium in Australia.

The AFL Grand Final is not only a sporting event but also a cultural phenomenon in Australia.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the Grand Final is the half-time entertainment. In previous years, the half-time show has featured some of the biggest names in music, including Ed Sheeran.

AFL Grand Final how to watch

The AFL Grand Final will be shown live by TNT Sports, the premier broadcaster for Aussie Rules in the UK.

AFL Grand Final format

The AFL Grand Final is a stand-alone game of Aussie Rules football between the two competing teams. As with all games, it is played on an oval-shaped pitch, with four 20-minute quarters of playing time.

Teams qualify for the Grand Final via the AFL finals series, which features eight teams.

If the teams are level after 80 minutes, extra time consists of two periods of play, each lasting three minutes plus time on, with a change of ends between periods.

The team leading at the end of the second period of extra time wins the Grand Final.

If the scores are still level after the second period of extra time, additional pairs of periods will be played until a winner is determined.

AFL Grand Final past winners

Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon share the record number of AFL Grand Final wins with 16 each.

The first Grand Final was played in 1898 as Fitzroy beat Essendon in front of 16,538 spectators. The most recent decider in 2024 saw Brisbane defeat Sydney defeating the Brisbane Lions with 100,013 spectators looking on at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

As of the start of the 2024 season, the longest premiership drought is held by the Sydney Swans who went 72 years between wins from 1933-2005.

The longest active drought belongs to St Kilda, whose most recent win was in 1966, with four Grand Final losses since.